Cathedral - Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
Cathedral is probably our favourite dive on Rapa Nui, a true standout. Dropping down, you’ll find yourself navigating a network of volcanic rock arches and swim-throughs, not really a cave in the traditional sense, but more an open system of caverns. It’s the light here that truly makes it special. Sunbeams slice through the water, creating these ethereal shafts that dance on the rocks, illuminating the black teatfish and spotted puffers that seem to drift lazily in the currents. Visibility on a good day can hit 40 metres, making the whole place feel even more immense. We’ve had some cracking encounters with green wrasse and the occasional passing Allison’s tuna here, too. Keep an eye out for the banded thicklip and blueskin; they’re often tucked into crevices. This site is definitely one for intermediate divers comfortable with overhead environments, though it never truly feels enclosed. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light show is at its best then.
- Location
- Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile, South America
- Coordinates
- -27.150000, -109.340000
- Type
- cave
- Maximum Depth
- 12-25m
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Marine Protected Area: Coral Nui Nui
Best Time to Dive in Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
The warmest water temperatures in Easter Island (Rapa Nui) occur in January, averaging 23.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 23.4°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 23.4°C (air: 22.2°C)
- February: 23.4°C (air: 23.0°C)
- March: 23.4°C (air: 22.7°C)
- April: 23.4°C (air: 21.7°C)
- May: 23.4°C (air: 20.7°C)
- June: 23.4°C (air: 19.4°C)
- July: 23.4°C (air: 18.4°C)
- August: 23.4°C (air: 18.1°C)
- September: 23.4°C (air: 17.9°C)
- October: 23.4°C (air: 18.2°C)
- November: 23.4°C (air: 19.6°C)
- December: 23.4°C (air: 20.9°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
- Buceo Orca
- Centro de Buceo Mike Rapu
- Motu Nui - 10-30m
- REGENT OAK - 15m (wreck)
- The Needles - 5-20m (pinnacle)
Nearest Dive Centres to Cathedral
- Atariki Rapa Nui
- Mike Rapu Dive Center - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
Home to 36 recorded species including 24 reef fish, 5 hard corals, 3 sea cucumbers, 1 sea urchins, 1 sharks & rays, 1 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Big long-nosed Butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma lutescens) - Reef Fish
- Trumpet (Aulostomus chinensis) - Reef Fish
- Glasseye Snapper (Heteropriacanthus cruentatus) - Reef Fish
- Cauliflower coral (Pocillopora verrucosa) - Hard Corals
- Ranger (Pseudocaranx dentex) - Reef Fish
- Stony coral (Porites lobata) - Hard Corals
- Porcupine (Diodon holocanthus) - Reef Fish
- Burrowing urchin (Echinometra mathaei) - Sea Urchins
- Pinkfish (Holothuria edulis) - Sea Cucumbers
- Brim (Kyphosus sectatrix) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Puffer (Arothron meleagris) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma purpureum) - Reef Fish
- Blue Spotted Wrasse (Anampses caeruleopunctatus) - Reef Fish
- Starry petaloid coral (Psammocora stellata) - Hard Corals
- Transverse coral (Leptastrea transversa) - Hard Corals
- Cauliflower coral (Pocillopora damicornis) - Hard Corals
- Scarlet Soldierfish (Myripristis pralinia) - Reef Fish
- Green wrasse (Notolabrus inscriptus) - Reef Fish
- Speckled moray (Gymnothorax dovii) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Cathedral
Based on average water temperature of 23.4°C.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 23°C water
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories